Closure for containers



June 23, 1931. F FlLDES CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 9, 1929 F. K. FILDES June 23, 1931.

CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 9. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwwzwto'c F. KQFILDES 1,811,312

Filed Oct. 9, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 MN R &\ RN B Q MN \N N x NW I- I June 23, 1931.

CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Patented June 23, 1931 PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK K. FILDES, OF ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Application filed October 9, 1929. Serial No. 398,379.

My invention relates to closures for containers and has particular reference to a door construction and locking mechanism adapted for use in sheet metal containers of the '6 kind used on railroads for the shipment of fractional car-load lots.

Containers of this kind are transported on flat, or flat bottom gondola cars, a plurality of the containers bemg mounted side by side on a single car with the doors of the containers opening outwardly at one side or at both sides. It often becomes necessar to open a container without removing it rom the car. If the car should happen to be 16 located on a track which is parellel to an adjacent track on which there is another car, the clearance between the two cars would not be sufficient to permit a door of ordinary construction to be fully opened.

There are also other situations in which the container is liable to be placed in which the clearance at the side of the door is restricted.

One of the objects of the present invention therefore is to provide a door construction suitable for containers of the above mentioned type which is adapted to permit the container to be opened with small clearances. For effecting this object the invention provides a door formed of a plurality of sections hinged together in such a manner that the sections can be folded, whereby the clearance required for opening the door need be little more than the width of a single section.

Another object is to provide a simple but very eflicient locking mechanism for a sectional door of this type. Still another object is to provide a weather-proof construc- 4 tion for the door which will fully protect the lading of the container under all weather conditions.

Referring now to the accompan ing drawings for a detailed description 0 one practical embodiment of the invention Fig. 1 is a front elevation;

FFig. 2 is a vertical section on line 22 of Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on line 55 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 6 and 7 are detail sectional views tFz ikenlrespectively on lines 66 and 7-7 of u The drawings show a portion of a sheet metal container of the kind referred to above. The numeral 10 designates the base bar of the container, the bottom plate 11 60 of the latter being riveted to the upper flange of this bar and the wooden flooring 12' belng supported on plate 11. The container has a door opening which is defined by a threshhold bar 13, and by side andtop bars 14 and 15.

As illustrated, the door is composed of two leaves respectively swung on hinges 16 and 16 at the opposite sides of the door opening. These two leaves each consist of three sections designated A, B, C; A B, C, the sections of a leaf being hinged together in such manner that they may be folded one upon another. Thus section B is connected to section A by hinges 17 which permit B to be swung inwardly with respect to A; and section C is connected to section B by hinges 18 which permit C to be swung outwardly with respect to B. Sections A B and C are similarly connected by hinges 17 and 18. Obviously in opening the door the two central sections 0 and C may first be swung outwardly on hinges 18 and 18' to bring their outer faces against the outer faces of sections B and B, whereu on sections B and B may be folded against sections A and A, respectively, as the latter are swung about the hinges 16 and 16'. Hence with this construction there will be required for opening the door a clearance at the side of the container only a little greater than the width of single section of the door.

The door sections are each formed of elongated sheet metal plates having inwardly extending side flanges 21 and 22 and having transverse sheet metal strengthening ribs 20 riveted to their inner faces between the flanges. The drawings show four of these strengthening ribs for each section, one at the top, one at the bottom and two at intermediate positions. When the door is closed the top ribs of the sections abut agalnst the depending flange of the top frame bar 15 while the bottom ribs abut against the vertical flange of the threshhold bar 13.

Since the containers, to which the door mechanisms forming the subject of my invention are adapted to be applied, are exposed to all kinds of weather, it is necessary to provide an efiicient weather-proof construction of the door. To this end I have devised a construction which while simple is very effective and durable. Referring particularly to Figs-4, 5 and 7 for a description of this feature of my invention, it will be observed that of the adjacent flanges of sections A, B and C, the one designated 21 extends at a right angle from the plate while the other, 22, extends at an acute angle, thus forming between them a space which is wedge-shaped in cross section. The adjacent flanges of sections A, B and C are similarly disposed. Secured to the outer faces of the inclined'flanges 22 are resilient packing members, or pads, 23. These pads are preferably formed of rubber strips bent over longitudinally and having their superposed margins secured together and to the flanges 22 by suitably spaced bolts 24, a protecting metallic strip 24 being interposed between the heads of the bolts and said margins. Each pad extends throughout the length of flange 22. When the sections are folded back the pads, due to their resilient walls, assume a more or less cylindrical form. When, on the other hand, the sections are unfolded to close the door, the pads are squeezed between the ad'acent flanges as the latter approach each ot er, with the result that the walls are deformed and tightly pressed against the faces of the flanges throughout "a large area of contact, whereby a substantially water-tight joint between adjacentsections is effected when the door is in closed position. In the same way, the pads secured to the flanges 22 of sections A and A coact with the side frame bars 14. The flanges 21 and 21 of the central sections 0 and C are formed with o posed inclined parallel portions to one of w ich is secured a pad 23 which is adapted to be squeezed between said portions when the section C is swung shut in the final act of closing the door. A plate 24, riveted to the marginal edge of section C projects from the edge of said section a sufiicient distance to cover the pad and to span the space between the opposed edges of the sections.

For the purpose of locking the door in closed position I-provide some or all of the individual sections with locking bolts vertically reciprocable on the inner faces of the sections and adapted to engage sockets or the like in the top and bottom bars of the door frame, and I provide interlocking mechanism operable from the outside for actuatin the bolts. As illustrated each section B, B and C'- is provided with upper and lower bolts 25 and 26." These bolts are reciprocable through vertically alined apertures in the sheet metal ribs 20. The ends of the upper bolts 26 are adapted to engage in apertures in the'top Z bar 15, while the ends of the lower bolts 26 are adapted to pass through registering apertures in the bars 13 and 10. -The inner ends of the bolts are connected by links 27 to oppositely extending arms of rockers 28 pivoted in bearings 29 which'are riveted to the inner faces of the door sections. The rocker shafts project through the plates of the sections and have operating arms secured to their ends. The operating arms for sections B, B, C and C are designated respectively by the numerals 30, 31, 32 and 33.

With the sections in closed and locked positions, the positions shown in the drawings, the bolt-operating arms are interlocked by the mechanism shown particularly in Figs. 5 and 6. It will be observed in Fig.6 that the arm 30 terminates in an integral cylindrical housing 34 in which is mounted the barrel 35 of a cylinder lock. Adapted to be operated by the proper key inserted in the exposed end of this barrel is a pin 36 which projects laterally through the barrel and engages a recess (not shown) to hold the barrel in its locking position. The barrel is urged by a spring 37 to move outwardly of the cylinder to unlocking position, the limits of movement being determined by a screw 38 engaging a longitudinal slot 39 in the barrel. Integral with barrel 35 is an axial pin 40 having a reduced portion which projects through the end of cylinder 34 and is adapted to engage arms 32 and 33, as will now be described. Arm 32 has a tail piece 41 at the opposite side of the pivot rom the arm proper, which extends outwardly at a right angle and has a hole through which the locking pin 40 passes and also has a horinzontal portion 42 adapted to engage the under side of cylinder 34. The free end of arm 33 has a socket 43 into which the locking pin is adapted to extend and has an offset portion 44 adapted to overlie the'cylinder 34. It will further be noted that the free end-of arm 32 is formed with a finger 45 overlying the pivot of arm 33 and with a stop 46 underlying arm 33; and that arm 31 has a bent end'47 engaging a shoulder 48 formed on a tail extension of arm 33. The described construction effects an interlocking engagement of the arms whereby not one of them can be moved from locked position until the key controlled looking bolt 40 has been retracted.

To unlock the door, it is necessary that first the proper key be inserted in the exlml posed end of barrel 35 and operated to withraw the locking pin 36 from its recess in cylinder 34. When the locking pin has been withdrawn, spring 37 will project the barrel outwardly until stopped by engagement of screw 38 with the inner end of slot 39, causing withdrawal of bolt 40 from the socket 43 and from the hole in the tail end of arm 32. Next arm 33 is turned upwardly into a vertical position withdrawing shoulder 48 fromthe end of arm 31. Arm 31 is then turned downwardly to a vertical position, it being noted that this arm cannot be turned upwardly because of the presence of hinge 18'. to a vertical position withdrawing flange 42 from the underside'of'the cylindrical end of arm 30. Arm 30 can then be moved downwardly to a vertical position, it being noted that this arm cannot be moved upwardly because of the presence of hinge 18. Thus the arms are all interlocked and have to be moved in certain directions and in a certain sequence after the key lock has been operated. .The turning of the arms to vertical positions withdraws the several bolts 25 and 26, permitting the door sections to be folded back to fully expose the door opening. To lock the sections after they have been placed in closed positions, the sequence of operation of the arms is different. Arm 30 or 31 is first brought to a horizontal position, then arm 32 and finally arm 33. The arms are. then locked by pushing in the barrel 35 until pin 36 reaches. the recess in cylinder 34, whereupon the pin will snap into the recess.

In order to protect the operating mechanism of the locking boltsfrom interference by the lading, these parts are covered by plates 50 secured at their ends to the two intermediate ribs 20 of the sections on which the bolts are mounted.

Obviously there are many changes which can be made within the scope of the invention by those skilled in the art, and it is not intended to limit the invention except as defined in the claims.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and deslre to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a container having a door opening, a door comprising two leaves hinged respectively at the sides of the o ening, each leaf consistin of a plurality 0 f so as to ibld together on parallel axes, locking bolts mounted on the insides of some of the sections, arms on the outsides of the sections respectively connected to said bolts, and means for interlocking the arms when the door is closed.

2. In a container having a door opening, a door comprising two leaves hinged respectively at sides of the opening and each leaf comprising a plurality of hinged sections adapted to fold toget er on parallel axes,

Next arm 32 is turned upwardly sections hinged v a rocker pivoted on the inside of each intermediate section, locking bolts slidably mounted on the inside of each intermediate section and respectively connected to the rockers and an operating arm for each rocker located at the outside of the section, the operating arms adapted to lie across the sections when the door is closed and locked, and means for locking said arms together.

3. In a container having a door opening, a door comprising a leaf hinged at the side of the opening and consisting of a plurality of sections adapted to fold together on parallel axes, a rocker pivoted on the inside of some of the sections, locking bolts slidably mounted on the inside of said sections and connected to the rockers, an operating arm for each rocker located at the outside, said operating arms adapted to lie across the sections when the door is closed and locked, and means for locking said arms together.

4. In a container having a door opening, a door comprising two leaves hinged respectively at the sides of the opening, each leaf consisting of a plurality of sections hinged together so as to told one upon another, looking bolts reciprocably mounted on the inner sides of some of the sections, rockers connected to said bolts having shafts-pro'ecting to the outsides of the sections and av- .ing operated arms fixed to their outer ends,

said arms adapted to lie horizontally across the sections when the door is closed and locked, a key-controlled bolt carried by one of said arms and adapted to have locking engagement with another of said arms, and interlocking projections on the remaining arms whereby none of the arms can be moved without unlocking said key-controlled bolt.

5, In a container having a door opening, a door comprising two leaves hinged respectively at the sides of the opening, each leaf consisting of a plurality of sections adapted to told one upon another, locking bolts reciprocably mounted on the inner sides of the two central sections of the door and upon the inner sides of the two sections next to the central sections, a bolt operating arm pivoted in each of said bolt carrying sections and located at the outsides of the sections, the two central arms being disposed horizontally across the opposed edges of the two central sections and the arms on the adjacent sections being disposed horizontally and having their ends engaging said central arms respectively, when the door is closed and locked, and a key-controlled bolt carried by one of the outer arms adapted to engage one of the central arms.

6. In a container having a door opening, a door comprising two leaves hinged res ectively at the sides of said opening, each eaf consisting of a plurality of sections adapted to fold on parallel axes, the hinged edges of said sections being inclined so as to define a space wedge-shaped in cross section, and a resilient pad secured to one of each pair of opposed edges and extending throughout the length thereof.

7. In a sheet metal door, a leaf hinged at one edge and having a flange at said edge extending inwardly at an acute angle to the face of said leaf, and a resilient pad secured to saidflange and extending throughout the length thereof.

8. A sheet metal door comprising a leaf consisting of a plurality of sections hinged together so as to fold on parallel axes, each section comprising an elongated plate flanged at the sides, one of the flanges extending substantially at a right angle and the othervat an acute angle to the plane of the plate, the right angular flange of one section being opposed to the inclined flange of the adjacent section and a resilient pad secured to one of said flanges and extending throu hout the length thereof.

9. v sheet metal door comprising a leaf consisting of a plurality of sections hinged together on parallel axes and adapted to fold one upon another, each section comprising an elongated plate flanged at the sides, one of the flanges extending substantially at a ri ht angle and the other at an acute angle to t e plane of the plate, the right angular flange of one section being opposed to the inclined flange of the adjacent section, and a resilient rubber pad secured to each inclined flange and extending throughout the length thereof;

10. A sheet -metal door comprising two leaves each consisting of a plurality of sections hinged so as to fold on parallel axes, each section comprising an elongated plate having inwardly extending flanges at the sides, the opposed flanges of the two central sections having parallel inclined ositions and one of the opposed flanges o the other sections being inclined at an acute angle to the other, and a resilient pad secured to one of each of the opposed flanges and extendin throughout the length thereof.

11. A. door hinged at one edge, the hinged edge of said door forming with the opposed edge of the door frame an acute dihedral angle, and a soft rubber pad secured to one of said edges and extending throughout the length thereof adapted to be squeezed between the faces of said angle, said pad consisting of an elongated rubber strip having its. longitudinal edges overlapped.

12. A sheet metal door hinged at one edge and having an inwardly extending flange at said edge orming with the opposed edge of the door frame an acute dihedral angle, a soft rubber pad having overlapped edges extending along said flange, a rigid backing strip over said overlapfied edges and fassignature.

FREDERICK K. FILDES. 

